St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-29
MISCELLANY.
IA PAIR OF WEDDINGS.
Rose Terry Cook in Harper's Bazaar.

"YOu don't say SOL"
Grandma Pine looked sharply over
her spectacles at pretty Nanny Camp
bell, who sat at her feet on an old fash
toned "cricket," the blaze of the open
fire playing on her bright blushing
face, and lending a richer shade OF
gold to the crown of fluffy hair that hid
her white forehead.
Nanny had come up to Traverse tC
spend Thanksgiving with her grand
parents. She came the day before, but
her father and mother could not leave
till the next morning. DIR. Campbell
was too busy ii man to spare more than
day from his practice; and Nanny
was glad to come alone, for she had a
great piece of news to tell grandma.
Yes, with Il deeper glow than the fire.
light on her dropping face, she impart-
ed the wonderful intelligence that she
was engaged to Jack Norton, and was
going to be married on Christmas.
Now grandma was not really much
surprised, for Jack Norton was the son
of DR.. Campbell's oldest and best
friend, and the children had known
each other always. Grandma, with
the forecasting wisdom of old ladies,
had prOphesied to herself this result
years ago, yet she thought she was sur
prised to find her prophecy fulfilled.
Perhaps it never would have been
had Nanny and Jack lived next door
to each other always; but when they
were yet children Mr.. Norton had left
Ridgefield aud gone to Boston to live.
And Jack, moreover, had been sent to
Germany for his preparatory studies,
and to England for his collegiate edu-
cation, so he was as good as stranger
when he came home to share his faith
ers business and when he saw pretty
Nanny, who had blOssOmed from a
plain angular little girl into lovely
young woman, he fell in love with her
after the good old fashion, and she re-
turned his passion with all the faith
and fervor of girls first serious at
lection.
They had been engaged several
months, but Nanny had not announced
the fact to any but her father and
mother. She was both shy and eau
tious, so she waited to tell grandma
until the wedding day was set.
Grandma was ready with cOngratu-
latiOns yet, as she drew the fair young
Ilcdu uOWu hO hIOC anu ooiOhOu
the bright hair with tremulOus fingers,
she sighed, for she had lived too long
not to dread life for the child she low
ed so WELL
"I'm kinder pleased" she cOnfided
to grandpa, in that "grand committee
of two" which married people hold on
matters that interest them or their
"and Pm kinder distressed
too. | don't like his bein' II lawyer !;
It never seemed us though twas re-
liable business, nor one tibet II real
honest, straightforward man could fol-
ler."
"Well," said grandpa, thOughtfully,
"you've got to take things by and
large, Elviry-by and large. The's
some lynn in all business. You don't
sell all the big p'tatoes nor all the
sound apples in the same barrel eff
YOU'RE IL farmer, nor you don't tell
man how old your critters be-uOt to a
day. Do you s'pose Tatum sells his
dry goods an groceries on the square
alwaysP Don't we get poor drugs for
high prices down to Deans An come
TO fine it down, ParsOn Pitcher don't
write a sermon every week, now L tell
We. There's suthin' bad to everything;
faint heaven on earth down to
BOsting, no mOre'n tits here to TRAY
erse."
"Well, 1 don't know as it's" re-
piled grandma, with a sigh "but any
how | wish't she wasn't gOln' to be
in December"
And while Nanny was bustling
round in the kitchen the next morn
ing, stirring cold milk into the Indian
pudding that today had the great oven
to itself, basting the huge turkey in
the rooster, garnishing the tongues,
keeping an eye on the chicken pie that
stood on tripod in the chimney cor
ner to keep it hot after it had been
drawn from the aforesaid oven, and
doing for grandma all the little odds
and ends that are so much work for
Did people and so little for young ones,
grandma was revolving in her mind
certain good cOunsels for the girl,
which might or might not be accepted
and acted upon for grandma had old
fashioned ideas. She spoke at last,
her fingers meanwhile busy pairing po-
5atoes for the pot that stood bubbling
TO receive them:
$50 you're gOin' to be married Christ
mas day, be you, Nanny 2"
"No, dear-Christmas eve."
"Seems pretty cold time for a we'd
lin" said grandma, taking up another
potato.
"Well, yes. Jack would not wait
ill June, when | wanted to have it;
he said he never believed in long en-
gagements. And mother thinks just
go that is, where people have known
each other as long as Jack and | have"
"GOin' to be married in church, |
,'pose n
ooh yes aud then reception. Now
you and grandpa must come down; |
want you to promise"
"We're Almost too old and too rheu-
Nanny, to go junketin' round
II midwinteT."
''NO, you're not bit. The cars are
warm, and mother will have IL fire in
your room and it's going to be such
pretty wedding Six bridesmaids,
granny all of them pretty girls, too,
IA low dresses of lace and pink satin,
with roses and short wells of tulle.
They'll look just lovely. And Dr.
Adams-yOu remember Everett Adams,
who studied with father-he's to be
pest man."
Gland ~ calculated grandma. 'T
should think Jack would be the best
nan amongst 'em."
"Well," laughed Nanny, with a
blush that would have been the pre-
Use tint for her bride maids dresses,
Il think he is but that isn't what they
,all him."
"And what is low' dresses 2" queried
grandma.
"Oh, low necked, and with no
sleeves just strap across the should
or, you know"
Good gracious !" exclaimed the old
ady. looking over her spectacles with
4 CLARA nf hnrrAr Shnnl1 thin L